U.S. patent application number 15/725728 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for data communication control.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Zhuangzhuang HAO.
Application Number | 20180288234 15/725728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59335667 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180288234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAO; Zhuangzhuang |
October 4, 2018 |
DATA COMMUNICATION CONTROL
Abstract
A method for controlling data communication includes receiving a
request to register a terminal to a communication network,
allocating a virtual card to the terminal for data communication,
acquiring data usage information of the virtual card, and
controlling use or reallocation of the virtual card according to
the data usage information. The data usage information includes an
amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the virtual
card.
Inventors: |
HAO; Zhuangzhuang; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd. |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
59335667 |
Appl. No.: |
15/725728 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 15/8055 20130101;
H04M 15/8038 20130101; H04M 15/751 20130101; H04M 15/8214 20130101;
H04W 4/24 20130101; H04M 17/02 20130101; H04M 15/8083 20130101;
H04M 15/8044 20130101; H04W 8/183 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 15/00 20060101
H04M015/00; H04W 8/18 20060101 H04W008/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2017 |
CN |
201710192664.6 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling data communication comprising:
receiving a request to register a terminal to a communication
network; allocating a virtual card to the terminal for data
communication; acquiring data usage information of the virtual
card, the data usage information including an amount of data
consumed by the terminal through using the virtual card; and
controlling use or reallocation of the virtual card according to
the data usage information.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the use or
reallocation of the virtual card according to the data usage
information includes: disabling an allocation relationship between
the virtual card and the terminal; and retrieving the virtual
card.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the use or
reallocation of the virtual card includes: acquiring an amount of
remaining data of the virtual card according to the data usage
information; and in response to the amount of remaining data of the
first virtual card being below a threshold: disabling the
allocation relationship between the virtual card and the terminal,
and retrieving the virtual card.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein acquiring the amount of
remaining data of the virtual card includes: determining an amount
of accumulated data usage of the virtual card according to the data
usage information; and calculating the amount of remaining data of
the virtual card according to a total amount of data of the virtual
card and the amount of accumulated data usage of the virtual
card.
5. The method for controlling data communication according to claim
3, wherein the virtual card is a first virtual card and the
threshold is a first threshold, the method further comprising:
allocating a second virtual card to the terminal for data
communication, wherein an amount of remaining data of the second
virtual card is higher than a second threshold higher than the
first threshold.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the use or
reallocation of the virtual card includes: in response to the
amount of remaining data of the virtual card being below a
threshold: controlling the terminal to continually use the virtual
card for data communication; and retrieving the virtual card in
response to the terminal releasing the virtual card.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein allocating the virtual
card to the terminal includes: allocating a virtual card having an
amount of remaining data higher than a threshold to the
terminal.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the request
includes: receiving the request from the terminal; and identifying
a type of the communication network to which the terminal is
accessed according to the request.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein allocating the virtual
card to the terminal includes: allocating a virtual card belonging
to the type of the communication network to the terminal.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining
and managing a plurality of virtual cards to be allocated.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein allocating the
virtual card to the terminal includes allocating one of the
plurality of virtual cards to the terminal.
12. A method for controlling data communication comprising:
establishing a communication connection between a terminal and a
management device; receiving information of a virtual card;
initiating the virtual card for data communication; sending data
usage information of the virtual card to the management device, the
data usage information including an amount of data consumed by the
terminal through using the virtual card; and controlling use of the
virtual card according to a control instruction issued by the
management device.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein sending the data
usage information of the virtual card to the management device
includes: reporting the data usage information of the virtual card
consumed by the terminal in accordance with a preset rule.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: the virtual card is
a first virtual card, and controlling the use of the virtual card
according to the control instruction includes: disabling the first
virtual card; and initiating a second virtual card, wherein an
amount of remaining data of the second virtual card is higher than
an amount of remaining data of the first virtual card.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein disabling the first
virtual card includes: disabling the first virtual card in response
to the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card being
below a threshold.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: the threshold is a
first threshold, and initiating the second virtual card includes:
initiating the second virtual card having the amount of remaining
data higher than a second threshold that is higher than the first
threshold.
17. A management device comprising: a transceiver; a memory storing
a computer program; and a processor coupled to the transceiver and
the memory, wherein the processor executes the computer program to:
receive, through the transceiver, a request to register a terminal
to a communication network; allocate a virtual card to the terminal
for data communication; acquire, through the transceiver, data
usage information of the virtual card, the data usage information
including an amount of data consumed by the terminal through using
the virtual card; and control, through the transceiver, use or
reallocation of the virtual card according to the data usage
information.
18. A terminal comprising: a transceiver; a memory storing a
computer program; and a processor coupled to the transceiver and
the memory, wherein the processor executes the computer program to:
establish a communication connection between the terminal and a
management device through the transceiver; receive information of a
virtual card from the management device; initiate the virtual card
for data communication; send data usage information of the virtual
card to the management device; the data usage information including
an amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the
virtual card; and control use of the virtual card according to a
control instruction issued by the management device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Application No.
201710192664.6, filed on Mar. 28, 2017, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of
communication and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for
controlling data communication as well as a management device and a
mobile terminal.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With the development of intelligent terminals and wireless
networking technologies, users may expect to access the Internet
from different locations using a same terminal. While roaming,
users may still need data communication services for browsing web
pages via a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone. Since
different locations may be covered by different communication
networks, users may need to pay expensive data roaming fees for
data transfer, particularly when roaming abroad.
[0004] A data plan according to conventional technologies, which
can provide a way for using data at a lower surcharge while
roaming, is achieved through assigning a virtual SIM card from a
carrier in a roaming area to the mobile terminal by the server.
However, the user may not need to use the virtual SIM card for data
services during the entire period abroad. Therefore, it is a waste
of virtual SIM card resources when the user does not use the
virtual SIM card, but still occupies it. Furthermore, the use of
data may be different for different users. As such, a waste of
virtual SIM card resources may occur to some extent, when the data
of some virtual SIM cards are overused, i.e. exceeding an amount of
data associated with the virtual SIM cards, while the data of other
virtual SIM cards are not fully utilized.
SUMMARY
[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for
controlling data communication, including receiving a request to
register a terminal to a communication network, allocating a
virtual card to the terminal for data communication, acquiring data
usage information of the virtual card, and controlling use or
reallocation of the virtual card according to the data usage
information. The data usage information includes an amount of data
consumed by the terminal through using the virtual card.
[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method
for controlling data communication including establishing a
communication connection between a terminal and a management
device, receiving information of a virtual card, initiating the
virtual card for data communication, sending data usage information
of the virtual card to the management device, and controlling use
of the virtual card according to a control instruction issued by
the management device. The data usage information includes an
amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the virtual
card.
[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a
management device including a transceiver, a memory storing a
computer program, and a processor coupled to the transceiver and
the memory. The processor executes the computer program to receive,
through the transceiver, a request to register a terminal to a
communication network, allocate a virtual card to the terminal for
data communication, acquire, through the transceiver, data usage
information of the virtual card, and control, through the
transceiver, use or reallocation of the virtual card according to
the data usage information. The data usage information includes an
amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the virtual
card.
[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal
comprising a transceiver, a memory storing a computer program, and
a processor coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The
processor executes the computer program to establish a
communication connection between the terminal and a management
device through the transceiver, receive information of a virtual
card from the management device, initiate the virtual card for data
communication, send data usage information of the virtual card to
the management device, and control use of the virtual card
according to a control instruction issued by the management device.
The data usage information includes an amount of data consumed by
the terminal through using the virtual card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In order to provide a clearer illustration of the technical
solution of embodiments of the present disclosure, brief
descriptions of the drawings of the present disclosure are
provided. The following drawings are merely examples for
illustrative purposes according to various disclosed embodiments.
Other drawings will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
consideration of the drawing of the embodiments disclosed
herein.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication
architecture for data communication according to the present
disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an application scenario of a technical solution
according to the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for controlling data
communication according to an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling data
communication according to another embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for
controlling data communication according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for
controlling data communication according to another embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a management device
according to the present disclosure; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a mobile terminal according
to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In order to provide a better understanding of the present
disclosure for those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present
disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings.
It is apparent that the disclosed embodiments are merely example
embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all of embodiments
of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the disclosure will
be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the
specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein,
which are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.
[0019] The terms "first," "second," or the like in the
specification, claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure
are merely used to distinguish similar elements, and are not
intended to describe a specified order or a sequence. The involved
elements may be interchangeable in any suitable situation, so that
the present disclosure can be performed in the order or sequence
different from that shown in the figures or described in the
specification. In addition, the terms "including," "comprising,"
and variations thereof herein are open, non-limiting terminologies,
which are meant to encompass a series of steps of processes and
methods, or a series of units of systems, apparatus, or devices
listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional
steps of the processes and methods or units of the systems,
apparatus, or devices.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication
architecture for data communication according to the present
disclosure. The communication architecture includes a communication
network, a terminal 1 connected to the communication network, and a
management device 2. The terminal 1 may be one of a variety of
mobile terminals, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, or a notebook,
and in one of various forms, such as portable-type, pocket-type,
hand-held type, computer built-in type, or vehicle-mounted type.
The management device 2 may be any management device connected to
the communication network, which may be a server. The terminal 1
can wirelessly access various communication networks for voice
switching and/or data exchange.
[0021] The communication network may be the Internet or a mobile
data network. The mobile data network may include, but not limited
to, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Wideband Code Division
Multiple Access (WCDMA) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE)
communication network, or the like. Different types of
communication networks may be operated by different carriers. The
type of communication network does not constitute a limitation of
the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 2 is an application scenario of a technical solution
according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 2, a mobile phone is
taken as an example to describe the application scenario. For
example, the user is located at a local carrier's operating area,
but may be transferred from the local carrier's operating area to a
roaming area due to work, travel, or the like.
[0023] In the local carrier's operating area, the user may have one
or more user identity cards, for example, the user has a subscriber
identity card, i.e., a subscriber identification module (SIM) card.
The SIM card is merely an example, and the user identity card can
also be a user identity module (UIM) card. The type of the user
identity card may vary depending on the type of the communication
network. A mobile phone communicates with a communication network
NM1 via the SIM card. The communication network NM1 refers to a
communication network corresponding to the user identity card,
which can be operated by a corresponding local carrier. For
example, the SIM card may belong to a GSM network from China
mobile, or belongs to a WCDMA network from China Unicom.
[0024] The user may be outside the local carrier's operating area,
which means the user is roaming. Taking international roaming as an
example, the user may need to use an oversea carrier's
communication network NM2 when roaming abroad. International
roaming rates are according to agreements between carriers in two
countries or regions. In most countries or regions, the
international roaming data service charges are much higher than
domestic data service charges. To avoid roaming fees, the user may
need to purchase a SIM card from an oversea carrier, which requires
the user to visit the oversea carrier's store for relevant business
and purchase a phone card belonging to the roaming area. The
operation is inconvenient.
[0025] Furthermore, a data plan according to conventional
technologies, which can provide a way for using data at a lower
surcharge while roaming abroad, is achieved through assigning a
virtual SIM card from the oversea carrier to the mobile terminal by
the server. However, the user may not need to use the virtual SIM
card for data services during the entire period abroad. Therefore,
it may be a waste of virtual SIM card resources when the user does
not use the virtual SIM card, but still occupies it.
[0026] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an
example of method for controlling data communication is provided,
which can be used in the communication architecture shown in FIG. 1
and in the application scenario shown in FIG. 2. In the
above-mentioned operating environment, the present disclosure
provides a flow chart of the method for controlling data
communication as shown in FIG. 3. The method for controlling data
communication is applied to the management device 2. The steps
shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3 may be performed as a set of
computer-executable instructions executed in a computer system.
Although a logical order is shown in the flow chart, however, in
some cases, the steps may be performed in an order different from
that shown or described herein. As shown in FIG. 3, at S301, a
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated by the management device
are obtained and managed.
[0027] At S303, a request signal from a terminal that requests to
register the terminal to a communication network is received.
[0028] At S305, a first virtual card is allocated to the terminal
from the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated. The terminal
can use the first virtual card for data communication.
[0029] At S307, data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal is acquired.
[0030] At S309, a use or reallocation of the first virtual card is
controlled according to the data usage information of the first
virtual card.
[0031] In the above-described method, at S301, the management
device obtains the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated and
manages the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated. After the
terminal requests to register to the communication network at S303,
the management device allocates the first virtual card to the
terminal from the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated at
S305. As such, the terminal can use the first virtual card for data
communication. At S307, after the terminal starts to use the first
virtual card for data communication, the management device acquires
the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by
the terminal. At S309, the management device controls the use or
reallocation of the first virtual card according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card. According to the present
disclosure, the use or reallocation of the first virtual card can
be controlled according to the data usage information of the first
virtual card. It is possible to most efficiently use the resources
of the first virtual card and to use the data at a lower charge
while satisfying the user's need.
[0032] In some embodiments, at S301, the management device obtains
and manages the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated.
Managing the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated may include
allocating and retrieving the virtual cards. The virtual card may
be a virtual user identity card for a communication network in a
roaming area provided by a company that specially sells the user
identify card of the roaming area, or by a local carrier
corresponding to the user identity card. The resources of the
virtual card can be the data resources of the virtual card.
[0033] After receiving the request from the terminal to register to
the communication network at S303, the management device allocates
the first virtual card to the terminal from the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated at S305, such that the terminal can
use the first virtual card for data communication. After the
terminal receives the first virtual card, the first virtual card
can simulate a complete function of a user identify card, allowing
the terminal to register and connect to the communication network
provided by an oversea carrier in the roaming area as a local user.
The terminal can use the data at local data rates for data
communication.
[0034] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. In some embodiments, the
management device can acquire the data usage information of the
first virtual card consumed by the terminal (S307) as described
below.
[0035] The data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal may be the data usage information of the
terminal using the first virtual card for data communication. The
data usage information may be an amount of data consumed by the
terminal through using the first virtual card for data
communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0036] In some embodiments, the management device can send an
acquisition request to the terminal periodically. The acquisition
request requires acquiring the data usage information of the
terminal that uses the first virtual card for data communication.
In response to the acquisition request, the terminal read the
amount of data used by the terminal through using the first virtual
card. In some other embodiments, the amount of data used by the
terminal through using the first virtual card may be reported to
the management device by the terminal at regular intervals or when
the data usage exceeds certain amount, which can effectively reduce
the burden of the management device, and enable the management
device to manage the data usage of the virtual SIM cards in
real-time.
[0037] After acquiring the data usage information of the terminal
that uses the first virtual card for data communication, the
management device calculates an amount of remaining data for the
first virtual card, according to a total amount of data of the
first virtual card and the data usage information of the first
virtual card consumed by the terminal. At S309, the management
device may control the use or reallocation of the first virtual
card according to the amount of remaining data.
[0038] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0039] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card can be dynamically
controlled based on the data usage information of the terminal
associated with the first virtual card, e.g., the amount of data
consumed by the terminal through the first virtual card. As such,
the resources of the first virtual card can be used to the utmost
extent without passing an upper limit of the subscribed data
resources. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0040] In some embodiments, controlling the use or reallocation of
the first virtual card according to the data usage information of
the first virtual card (S309) includes disabling the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieving the first virtual card.
[0041] The user may not need to occupy the virtual SIM card for
data services during the entire period abroad. Therefore, it may be
a waste of virtual SIM card resources when the user does not use
the virtual SIM card, but still occupies it. Therefore, the
allocation relationship between the first virtual card and the
terminal can be disabled, and the first virtual card can be
retrieved, when the user does not use the virtual SIM card.
[0042] In some other embodiments, the allocation relationship
between the first virtual card and the terminal can be disabled,
and the first virtual card can be retrieved, when the resource of
the first virtual card is nearly used up or has been used up.
[0043] In some embodiments, disabling the allocation relationship
between the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the
first virtual card (S309) includes obtaining an amount of remaining
data of the first virtual card based on the data usage information
of the first virtual card, determining whether the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below a first
threshold, and, in response to determining that the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below the first
threshold, disabling the allocation relationship between the first
virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the first virtual
card.
[0044] The first threshold may be a threshold for stopping the use
of the first virtual card, which can be manually set. When the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is below the
first threshold, the management device can disable the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieve the first virtual card.
[0045] In some embodiments, disabling the allocation relationship
between the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the
first virtual card (S309) includes determining whether the amount
of remaining data of the first virtual card is below a second
threshold, and, in response to determining that the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below the second
threshold, controlling the terminal to continually use the first
virtual card for data communication and retrieving the first
virtual card when the terminal releases the first virtual card.
[0046] The second threshold may be a threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card, which can be manually set.
The second threshold is higher than the first threshold. When the
data resource of the first virtual card is close to being used up,
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is first
below the second threshold, i.e., the threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card. The user is allowed to
continue the use of the first virtual card until the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below the first
threshold, i.e., the threshold for disabling the use of the first
virtual card. However, if user releases the first virtual card, the
first virtual card can be retrieved and will not be
reallocated.
[0047] In some embodiments, after disabling the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieving the first virtual card (S309), the method further
includes allocating a second virtual card to the terminal from the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated, such that the terminal
can use the second virtual card for data communication. An amount
of remaining data of the second virtual card is higher than the
second threshold, and the second threshold is higher than the first
threshold.
[0048] That is, after disabling the allocation relationship between
the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the first
virtual card, the management device may allocate the second virtual
card to the terminal, of which the amount of remaining data is
higher than the second threshold, i.e., the threshold for
prohibiting the allocation of the virtual card. As such, the
terminal can use the second virtual card for data
communication.
[0049] In some embodiments, allocating the first virtual card to
the terminal from the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated
(S305) includes determining whether the amount of remaining data of
the first virtual card is higher than the second threshold and, in
response to determining that the amount of remaining data of the
first virtual card is higher than the second threshold, allocating
the first virtual card to the terminal.
[0050] When the user initiates a roaming service, the management
device can assign a virtual card having an amount of remaining data
higher than the threshold for prohibiting the allocation of the
virtual card to the terminal, such that the terminal can use the
virtual card having an amount of remaining data higher than the
threshold for prohibiting the allocation of the virtual card for
data communication.
[0051] Furthermore, in some embodiments, receiving the request to
register the terminal to the communication network (S303) includes
receiving a request signal from the terminal, identifying a type of
the communication network to which the terminal is accessed
according to the request signal. Further, allocating the first
virtual card to the terminal from the plurality of virtual cards to
be allocated (S305) includes allocating the first virtual card
belonging to the type of the communication network to which the
terminal is accessed from the plurality of virtual cards to be
allocated.
[0052] When roaming, the user can start a customized roaming App on
a phone. The phone can perform a network search and, after locating
a communication network, request to be registered to the
communication network. After receiving a request signal from the
phone, the management device can identify a type of the
communication network to which the phone is accessed according to
the request signal, and allocate to the phone a first virtual card
belonging to the type of the communication network to which the
phone is accessed from the plurality of virtual cards to be
allocated. Types of communication networks are described above.
[0053] In some embodiments, calculating the amount of remaining
data of the first virtual card according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal
includes determining an amount of accumulated data usage of the
first virtual card according to the data usage information of the
first virtual card consumed by the terminal, calculating the amount
of remaining data of the first virtual card according to the total
amount of data of the first virtual card and the amount of
accumulated data usage of the first virtual card. The amount of
accumulated data usage may be calculated by accumulating the
amounts of data used by the terminal during different time periods
or the amounts of data used by different terminals. Thus, the
management device can calculate the amount of accumulated data
usage of the first virtual card and the amount of remaining data of
the first virtual card, according to the data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal.
[0054] The data usage information of the first virtual card may be
the data usage information of the terminal using the first virtual
card for data communication. The data usage information may be an
amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the first
virtual card for data communication, which can be counted by the
terminal. That is to say, the management device can determine the
amount of accumulated data usage of the first virtual card
according to the amount of data consumed by the terminal through
using the first virtual card for data communication, which can be
counted by the terminal, and determine the amount of remaining data
of the first virtual card according to the total amount of data of
the first virtual card and the amount of accumulated data usage of
the first virtual card.
[0055] According to the present disclosure, the use or reallocation
of the first virtual card can be dynamically controlled based on
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card. It is
possible to use the resources of the first virtual card to the
utmost extent, and use the data at a lower charge while satisfying
the user's need.
[0056] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, another
example of method for controlling data communication is provided,
which can be used in the communication architecture shown in FIG. 1
and in the application scenario shown in FIG. 2. The method for
controlling data communication can be implemented in the terminal
1. As shown in FIG. 4, at S402, a communication connection between
the terminal and a management device managing a plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated is established.
[0057] At S404, information of a first virtual card is received, to
initiate the first virtual card for data communication.
[0058] At S406, data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal is sent to the management device.
[0059] At S408, the use of the first virtual card is controlled
according to a control instruction issued by the management
device.
[0060] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, at S402, the
terminal establishes the communication connection with the
management device that manages the plurality of virtual cards to be
allocated. After establishing the communication connection, at
S404, the terminal receives the information of the first virtual
card, and initiates the first virtual card for data communication.
When using the first virtual card for data communication, at S406,
the terminal sends the data usage information of the first virtual
card consumed by the terminal to the management device. The
management device issues the control instruction to the terminal
according to the data usage information of the first virtual card.
At S408, the terminal controls the use of the first virtual card
according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. According to the present disclosure, based on the data
usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal, the terminal can control the use of the first virtual
card according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0061] The management device can obtain and manage the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated. The management of the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated can include allocating and retrieving
the virtual cards. The virtual card may be a virtual user identity
card for communication network in roaming area provided by a
company that specially sells the user identify card of the roaming
area, or by a local carrier corresponding to the user identity
card. The resources of the virtual card can be the data resources
of the virtual card.
[0062] At S402, the terminal establishes the communication
connection with the management device that manages the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated. After establishing the communication
connection, at S404, the terminal receives the information of the
first virtual card, and initiates the first virtual card for data
communication. After the terminal is issued the first virtual card,
the first virtual card can simulate the complete function of a user
identify card. As such, the terminal can be registered to the
communication network provided by the oversea carrier as a local
user in the roaming area. The terminal can use the data at local
data rates for data communication.
[0063] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. At S406, the terminal sends the
data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal to the management device. The data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal may be the data
usage information of the terminal using the first virtual card for
data communication. The data usage information may be an amount of
data consumed by the terminal through using the first virtual card
for data communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0064] In some embodiments, the amount of data used by the terminal
through using the first virtual card may be reported to the
management device by the terminal at regular intervals or when the
data usage exceeds certain amount, which can effectively reduce the
burden of the management device, and enable the management device
to manage the data usage of the virtual SIM cards in real-time.
[0065] After the terminal sends the data usage information of the
first virtual card to the management device, the management device
calculates an amount of remaining data of the first virtual card,
according to a total amount of data of the first virtual card and
the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by
the terminal. After obtaining the amount of remaining data of the
first virtual card, the management device may control the use or
reallocation of the first virtual card according to the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card, and send the control
instruction for the use or reallocation of the first virtual card
to the terminal.
[0066] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0067] At S408, the terminal controls the use of the first virtual
card according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card can be dynamically
controlled based on the data usage information of the terminal
associated with the first virtual card, e.g., the amount of data
consumed by the terminal through the first virtual card. As such,
the resources of the first virtual card can be used to the utmost
extent without passing an upper limit of the subscribed data
resources. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0068] In some embodiments, sending the data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal to the management
device (S406) includes the terminal reporting the data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal in
accordance with a preset rule.
[0069] The preset rule may be that the amount of data consumed by
the terminal through using the first virtual card may be reported
to the management device by the terminal at regular intervals or
when the data usage is exceeds a certain amount. The data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal may
be the data usage information of the terminal using the first
virtual card for data communication. The data usage information may
be an amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the
first virtual card for data communication, which can be counted by
the terminal.
[0070] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card according to the control instruction issued by the
management device (S408) includes disabling the first virtual card
and initiating a second virtual card, where the amount of remaining
data of the second virtual card is larger than the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card.
[0071] The first threshold may be a threshold for disabling the use
of the first virtual card, which can be manually set. When the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is below the
first threshold, the management device disables the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieves the first virtual card. According to the control
instruction issued by the management device, the terminal disables
the first virtual card and initiates the second virtual card, where
the amount of remaining data of the second virtual card is higher
than the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card.
[0072] The second threshold may be a threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card, which can be manually set.
The management device may only assign a virtual card having an
amount of remaining data above the second threshold to the
terminal, such that the terminal can use the virtual card having
the amount of remaining data above the second threshold for data
communication.
[0073] According to the present disclosure, the use or reallocation
of the first virtual card can be dynamically controlled based on
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card. The
terminal uses the first virtual card according to the control
instruction issued by the management device. It is possible to use
the data at a lower charge while satisfying the user's need. The
user's experience is greatly enhanced.
[0074] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an
example of apparatus 500 for controlling data communication is
provided, which can be used in the communication architecture shown
in FIG. 1 and in the application scenario shown in FIG. 2. The
apparatus 500 is included in the management device 2. As shown in
FIG. 5, the apparatus 500 includes a management unit 501, a
receiving unit 502, an allocation unit 503, an acquisition unit
504, and a control unit 505.
[0075] The management unit 501 is configured to enable the
management device to obtain and manage a plurality of virtual cards
to be allocated.
[0076] The receiving unit 502 is configured to receive a request
signal from a terminal that requests to register the terminal to a
communication network.
[0077] The allocation unit 503 is configured to allocate a first
virtual card to the terminal from the plurality of virtual cards to
be allocated, such that the terminal can use the first virtual card
for data communication.
[0078] The acquisition unit 504 is configured to acquire data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal.
[0079] The control unit 505 is configured to control a use or
reallocation of the first virtual card according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card.
[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the management unit 501
can enable the management device to obtain the plurality of virtual
cards to be allocated and to manage the plurality of virtual cards
to be allocated. After the receiving unit 502 receives the request
to register the terminal to the communication network, the
allocation unit 503 can allocate the first virtual card to the
terminal from the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated, such
that the terminal can use the first virtual card for data
communication. After the terminal starts to use the first virtual
card for data communication, the acquisition unit 504 can acquire
the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by
the terminal. The control unit 505 can control the use or
reallocation of the first virtual card according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card. According to the present
disclosure, the use or reallocation of the first virtual card can
be controlled according to the data usage information of the first
virtual card. It is possible to use the resources of the first
virtual card to the utmost extent and to use the data at a lower
charge while satisfying the user's need.
[0081] The management device can obtain and manage the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated, where the management of the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated includes allocating
and/or retrieving the virtual cards. The virtual card may be a
virtual user identity card for the communication network in the
roaming area provided by a company that sells the user identify
card of the roaming area, or by a local carrier corresponding to
the user identity card. The resources of the virtual card can be
the data resources of the virtual card.
[0082] After the receiving unit 502 receives the request to
register the terminal to the communication network, the allocation
unit 503 allocates the first virtual card to the terminal from the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated, such that the terminal
can use the first virtual card for data communication. After the
terminal starts to use the first virtual card, the first virtual
card can simulate a complete function of a user identify card,
allowing the terminal to register and connect to the communication
network provided by an oversea carrier in the roaming area as a
local user. The terminal can use the data at local data rates for
data communication.
[0083] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. In the present disclosure, the
acquisition unit 504 can acquire data usage information of the
first virtual card consumed by the terminal as described below.
[0084] The data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal may be the data usage information of the
terminal using the first virtual card for data communication. The
data usage information may be an amount of data consumed by the
terminal through using the first virtual card for data
communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0085] In some embodiments, the acquisition unit 504 can send an
acquisition request to the terminal periodically. The acquisition
request requires acquiring the data usage information of the
terminal that uses the first virtual card for data communication.
In response to the acquisition request, the terminal read the
amount of data used by the terminal through using the first virtual
card. In some other embodiments, the amount of data used by the
terminal through using the first virtual card may be reported to
the management device by the terminal at regular intervals or when
the data usage exceeds certain amount, which can effectively reduce
the burden of the management device, and enable the management
device to manage the data usage of the virtual SIM cards in
real-time
[0086] After acquiring the data usage information of the terminal
that uses the first virtual card for data communication, the
acquisition unit 504 calculates an amount of remaining data of the
first virtual card, according to a total amount of data of the
first virtual card and the data usage information of the first
virtual card consumed by the terminal. The control unit 505 may
control the use or reallocation of the first virtual card according
to the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card.
[0087] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0088] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card can be dynamically
controlled based on the data usage information of the terminal
associated with the first virtual card, e.g., the amount of data
consumed by the terminal through the first virtual card. As such,
the resources of the first virtual card can be used to the utmost
extent without passing an upper limit of the subscribed data
resources. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0089] In some embodiments, the controlling by the control unit 505
of the use or reallocation of the first virtual card according to
the data usage information of the first virtual card includes
disabling the allocation relationship between the first virtual
card and the terminal, and retrieving the first virtual card.
[0090] The user may not need to occupy the virtual SIM card for
data services during the entire period abroad. Therefore, it is may
be a waste of virtual SIM card resources when the user does not use
the virtual SIM card, but still occupies it. Therefore, the
allocation relationship between the first virtual card and the
terminal can be disabled, and the first virtual card can be
retrieved, when the user does not use the virtual SIM card.
[0091] In some embodiments, the allocation relationship between the
first virtual card and the terminal can be disabled, and the first
virtual card can be retrieved, when the resource of the first
virtual card is nearly used up or has been used up.
[0092] In some embodiments, disabling the allocation relationship
between the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the
first virtual card includes obtaining an amount of remaining data
of the first virtual card based on the data usage information of
the first virtual card, determining whether the amount of remaining
data of the first virtual card is below a first threshold, and, in
response to determining that the amount of remaining data of the
first virtual card is below the first threshold, disabling the
allocation relationship between the first virtual card and the
terminal, and retrieving the first virtual card.
[0093] The first threshold may be a threshold for stopping the use
of the first virtual card, which can be manually set. When the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is below the
first threshold, the management device can disable the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieve the first virtual card.
[0094] In some embodiments, disabling the allocation relationship
between the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the
first virtual card includes determining whether the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below a second
threshold, and, in response to determining that the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below the second
threshold, controlling the terminal to continually use the first
virtual card for data communication and retrieving the first
virtual card when the terminal releases the first virtual card.
[0095] The second threshold may be a threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card, which can be manually set.
The second threshold is higher than the first threshold. When the
data resource of the first virtual card is close to being used up,
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is first
below the second threshold, i.e., the threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card. The user is allowed to
continue the use of the first virtual card until the amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card is below the first
threshold, i.e., the threshold for disabling the use of the first
virtual card. However, if user releases the first virtual card, the
first virtual card can be retrieved and will not be
reallocated.
[0096] In some embodiments, after the control unit 505 disables the
allocation relationship between the first virtual card and the
terminal, and retrieves the first virtual card, the allocation unit
503 allocates a second virtual card to the terminal from the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated, such that the terminal
can use the second virtual card for data communication. An amount
of remaining data of the second virtual card is higher than the
second threshold, and the second threshold is higher than the first
threshold.
[0097] That is, after disabling the allocation relationship between
the first virtual card and the terminal, and retrieving the first
virtual card, the management device may allocate the second virtual
card to the terminal, of which the amount of remaining data is
higher than the second threshold, i.e., the threshold for
prohibiting the allocation of the virtual card. As such, the
terminal can use the second virtual card for data
communication.
[0098] In some embodiments, the allocation by the allocation unit
503 of the first virtual card to the terminal from the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated includes determining whether the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is higher than
the second threshold and, in response to determining that the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is higher than
the second threshold, allocating the first virtual card to the
terminal.
[0099] When the user initiates a roaming service, the management
device can assign a virtual card having an amount of remaining data
higher than the threshold for prohibiting the allocation of the
virtual card, to the terminal, such that the terminal can use the
virtual card having an amount of remaining data higher than the
threshold for prohibiting the allocation of the virtual card, for
data communication.
[0100] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the receiving by the
receiving unit 502 of the request to register the terminal to the
communication network includes receiving a request signal from the
terminal, identifying a type of the communication network to which
the terminal is accessed according to the request signal. The
allocation unit 503 allocates the first virtual card belonging to
the type of the communication network to which the terminal is
accessed from the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated.
[0101] When roaming, the user can start a customized roaming App on
a phone. The phone can perform a network search and, after locating
a communication network, request to be registered to the
communication network. After receiving a request signal from the
phone, the management device can identify a type of the
communication network to which the phone is accessed according to
the request signal, and allocate to the phone a first virtual card
belonging to the type of the communication network to which the
phone is accessed from the plurality of virtual cards to be
allocated. Types of communication networks are described above.
[0102] In some embodiments, the calculating by the acquisition unit
504 of the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card
according to the data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal includes determining an amount of
accumulated data usage of the first virtual card according to the
data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal, calculating the amount of remaining data of the first
virtual card according to the total amount of data of the first
virtual card and the amount of accumulated data usage of the first
virtual card. The amount of accumulated data usage may be
calculated by accumulating the amounts of data used by the terminal
during different time periods or the amounts of data used by
different terminals. Thus, the management device can calculate the
amount of accumulated data usage of the first virtual card and the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card, according to
the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by
the terminal.
[0103] The data usage information of the first virtual card may be
the data usage information of the terminal using the first virtual
card for data communication. The data usage information may be an
amount of data consumed by the terminal through using the first
virtual card for data communication, which can be counted by the
terminal. That is to say, the management device can determine the
amount of accumulated data usage of the first virtual card
according to the amount of data consumed by the terminal through
using the first virtual card for data communication, which can be
counted by the terminal, and determine the amount of remaining data
of the first virtual card according to the total amount of data of
the first virtual card and the amount of accumulated data usage of
the first virtual card.
[0104] According to the present disclosure, the use or reallocation
of the first virtual card can be dynamically controlled based on
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card. It is
possible to use the resources of the first virtual card to the
utmost extent, and use the data at a lower charge while satisfying
the user's need.
[0105] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, another
example of apparatus 600 for controlling data communication is
provided, which can be used in the communication architecture shown
in FIG. 1 and in the application scenario shown in FIG. 2. The
apparatus 600 is included in the terminal 1. As shown in FIG. 6,
the apparatus 600 includes a communication unit 602, a receiving
unit 604, a transfer unit 606, and a control unit 608.
[0106] The communication unit 602 is configured to establish a
communication connection between the terminal and a management
device managing a plurality of virtual cards to be allocated.
[0107] The receiving unit 604 is configured to receive information
of a first virtual card, and initiate the first virtual card for
data communication.
[0108] The transfer unit 606 is configured to send data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal to
the management device.
[0109] The control unit 608 is configured to control a use of the
first virtual card according to a control instruction issued by the
management device.
[0110] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal
establishes the communication connection with the management device
that manages the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated through
the communication unit 602. After establishing the communication
connection, the receiving unit 604 receives the information of the
first virtual card from the management device, and initiates the
first virtual card for data communication. When using the first
virtual card for data communication, the transfer unit 606 sends
the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by
the terminal to the management device. The management device issues
the control instruction to the terminal according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card. The control unit 608
controls the use of the first virtual card according to the control
instruction issued by the management device. According to the
present disclosure, based on the data usage information of the
first virtual card consumed by the terminal, the terminal can
control the use of the first virtual card according to the control
instruction issued by the management device. It is possible to use
the data at a lower charge while satisfying the user's need. The
user's experience is greatly enhanced.
[0111] The management device can obtain and manage the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated, where the management of the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated includes allocating and
retrieving the virtual cards. The virtual card may be a virtual
user identity card for communication network in roaming area
provided by a company that specially sells the user identify card
of the roaming area, or by a local carrier corresponding to the
user identity card. The resources of the virtual card can be the
data resources of the virtual card.
[0112] The terminal establishes the communication connection with
the management device that manages the plurality of virtual cards
to be allocated through the communication unit 602. After
establishing the communication connection, the receiving unit 604
receives the information of the first virtual card, and initiates
the first virtual card for data communication. After the terminal
is issued the first virtual card, the first virtual card can
simulate the complete function of a user identify card. As such,
the terminal can be registered to the communication network
provided by the oversea carrier as a local user in the roaming
area. The terminal can use the data at local data rates for data
communication.
[0113] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. The transfer unit 606 sends the
data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal to the management device. The data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal may be the data
usage information of the terminal using the first virtual card for
data communication. The data usage information may be an amount of
data consumed by the terminal through using the first virtual card
for data communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0114] In some embodiments, the amount of data used by the terminal
through the first virtual card may be reported to the management
device by the terminal at regular intervals or when the data usage
exceeds certain amount, which can effectively reduce the burden of
the management device, and enable the management device to manage
the data usage of the virtual SIM cards in real-time.
[0115] After the transfer unit 606 sends the data usage information
of the first virtual card to the management device, the management
device calculates an amount of remaining data of the first virtual
card, according to a total amount of data of the first virtual card
and the data usage information of the first virtual card consumed
by the terminal. After obtaining the amount of remaining data of
the first virtual card, the management device may control the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card according to the amount
of remaining data of the first virtual card, and sends the control
instruction for the use or reallocation of the first virtual card
to the terminal.
[0116] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0117] Further, the control unit 608 controls the use of the first
virtual card according to the control instruction issued by the
management device. According to embodiments of the present
disclosure, the use or reallocation of the first virtual card can
be dynamically controlled based on the data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal. As such, the
resources of the first virtual card can be used to the utmost
extent without passing an upper limit of the subscribed data
resources. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0118] In some other embodiments, the transfer unit 606 reports the
data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal in accordance with a preset rule.
[0119] The preset rule may be that the amount of data used by the
terminal through the first virtual card may be reported to the
management device by the terminal at regular intervals or when the
data usage exceeds a certain amount. The data usage information of
the first virtual card consumed by the terminal may be the data
usage information of the terminal using the first virtual card for
data communication. The data usage information may be an amount of
data consumed by the terminal through using the first virtual card
for data communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0120] In some embodiments, the controlling by the control unit 608
of the use of the first virtual card according to the control
instruction issued by the management device includes disabling the
first virtual card and initiating a second virtual card, where the
amount of remaining data of the second virtual card is larger than
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card.
[0121] The first threshold may be a threshold for disabling the use
of the first virtual card, which can be manually set. When the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card is below the
first threshold, the management device disables the allocation
relationship between the first virtual card and the terminal, and
retrieves the first virtual card. According to the control
instruction issued by the management device, the terminal disables
the first virtual card; and initiates the second virtual card,
where the amount of remaining data of the second virtual card is
higher than the amount of remaining data of the first virtual
card.
[0122] The second threshold may be a threshold for prohibiting the
allocation of the first virtual card, which can be manually set.
The management device may only assign a virtual card having an
amount of remaining data above the second threshold to the
terminal, such that the terminal can use the virtual card having
the amount of remaining data above the second threshold for data
communication.
[0123] According to the present disclosure, the use or reallocation
of the first virtual card can be dynamically controlled based on
the amount of remaining data of the first virtual card. The
terminal uses the first virtual card according to the control
instruction issued by the management device. It is possible to use
the data at a lower charge while satisfying the user's need. The
user's experience is greatly enhanced.
[0124] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a
management device is provided, which can be used in the
communication architecture shown in FIG. 1 and in the application
scenario shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the management device
2 includes a transceiver 701, a memory 703, and a processor
705.
[0125] The transceiver 701 is configured to receive and/or send a
signal.
[0126] The memory 703 is configured to store a computer
program.
[0127] The processor 705 is configured to execute the computer
program, and to generate instructions for performing a method
including obtaining and managing a plurality of virtual cards to be
allocated, receiving a request signal from a terminal to register
the terminal to a communication network through the transceiver
701, allocating a first virtual card to the terminal from the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated such that the terminal
can use the first virtual card for data communication, acquiring
data usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal through the transceiver 701, and controlling a use or
reallocation of the first virtual card by the transceiver 701
according to the data usage information of the first virtual
card.
[0128] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the
management device can obtain and manage the plurality of virtual
cards to be allocated. After the terminal requests to register the
terminal to the communication network, the management device
allocates the first virtual card to the terminal from the plurality
of virtual cards to be allocated such that the terminal can use the
first virtual card for data communication. After the terminal
starts to use the first virtual card for data communication, the
management device acquires data usage information of the first
virtual card consumed by the terminal. The management device
controls the use or reallocation of the first virtual card
according to the data usage information of the first virtual card.
According to the present disclosure, the use or reallocation of the
first virtual card can be controlled according to the data usage
information of the first virtual card. It is possible to use the
resources of the first virtual card to the utmost extent and to use
the data at a lower charge while satisfying the user's need.
[0129] The transceiver 701 may be any wireless transceiver, and
detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0130] The memory 703 may include one or more computer programs.
The memory 703 can be any type of computer readable storage medium,
for example, a volatile memory and/or a nonvolatile memory. The
volatile memory may include a Random Access Memory (RAM), and/or a
high-speed cache memory, or the like. The nonvolatile memory
includes, for example, a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), a
hard disk, a Flash memory, or the like. One or more program
instructions may be stored the computer readable storage medium.
The processor 705 performs the program instructions to implement a
method for controlling data communication, such as one of the
methods described above in connection with FIG. 3. A variety of
applications and various data may also be stored in a
computer-readable storage medium, for example, working status of a
display screen, operating status of an application, or the
like.
[0131] The processor 705 may include one or more processors. The
processor may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or another form of
processing unit with data processing capabilities and/or
instruction execution capabilities, including, but not limited to,
Microcontroller (MCU), or Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or
the like. The professor 705 may control other components in the
management device 2 to perform a desired function, according to the
computer programs stored in the memory 703.
[0132] The components and configurations of the management device 2
shown in FIG. 7 are merely examples and not limited, and the
management device 2 may also have other components and
configurations as needed, and may include, for example, an
acquisition unit, a display unit, or the like.
[0133] The processor 705 executes the computer program stored in
the memory 703 and generates instructions for performing a method
including, for example, enabling the management device to obtain
and manage the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated,
including allocating and retrieving the virtual cards. The virtual
card may be a virtual user identity card for communication network
in roaming area provided by a company that specially sells the user
identify card of the roaming area, or by a local carrier
corresponding to the user identity card. The resources of the
virtual card can be the data resources of the virtual card.
[0134] After receiving a request to register the terminal to the
communication network by using the transceiver 701, the management
device can allocate the first virtual card to the terminal from the
plurality of virtual cards to be allocated, allowing the terminal
to use the first virtual card for data communication. After the
terminal starts to use the first virtual card, the first virtual
card can simulate a complete function of a user identify card,
allowing the terminal to register and connect to the communication
network provided by an oversea carrier in the roaming area as a
local user.
[0135] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. According to the present
disclosure, the management device uses the transceiver 701 to
acquire data usage information of the first virtual card consumed
by the terminal, as described below.
[0136] The data usage information of the first virtual card
consumed by the terminal may be the data usage information of the
terminal using the first virtual card for data communication. The
data usage information may be an amount of data consumed by the
terminal through using the first virtual card for data
communication, which can be counted by the terminal.
[0137] The data usage information may be acquired through sending
an acquisition request to the terminal by the transceiver 701
periodically. The acquisition request requires acquiring the data
usage information of the terminal that uses the first virtual card
for data communication. In response to the acquisition request, the
terminal read the amount of data used by the terminal through using
the first virtual card. In some other embodiments, the amount of
data used by the terminal through using the first virtual card may
be reported to the management device by the terminal at regular
intervals or when the data usage exceeds certain amount, which can
effectively reduce the burden of the management device, and enable
the management device to manage the data usage of the virtual SIM
cards in real-time.
[0138] After acquiring the data usage information of the terminal
that uses the first virtual card for data communication, the
processor 705 calculates an amount of remaining data of the first
virtual card, according to a total amount of data of the first
virtual card and the data usage information of the first virtual
card consumed by the terminal. The processor 705 acquires the
amount of remaining data of the first virtual card, and the
transceiver 701 may control the use or reallocation of the first
virtual card according to the amount of remaining data of the first
virtual card.
[0139] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0140] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card can be dynamically
controlled based on the data usage information of the terminal
associated with the first virtual card, e.g., the amount of data
consumed by the terminal through the first virtual card. As such,
the resources of the first virtual card can be used to the utmost
extent without passing an upper limit of the subscribed data
resources. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0141] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an
example of terminal is provided, which can be used in the
communication architecture shown in FIG. 1 and in the application
scenario shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 1
includes a transceiver 802, a memory 804, and a processor 806.
[0142] The transceiver 802 is configured to receive and/or send a
signal.
[0143] The memory 804 is configured to store a computer
program.
[0144] The processor 806 is configured to execute the computer
program, and to generate instructions for performing a method
including establishing, through the transceiver 802, a
communication connection between the terminal and a management
device managing a plurality of virtual cards to be allocated,
receiving information of a first virtual card from the management
device, initiating the first virtual card for data communication,
sending data usage information of the first virtual card consumed
by the terminal to the management device, and controlling a use of
the first virtual card according to a control instruction issued by
the management device.
[0145] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal
establishes the communication connection with the management device
that manages the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated. After
establishing the communication connection, the terminal can receive
the information of the first virtual card from the management
device, and initiate the first virtual card for data communication.
When using the first virtual card for data communication, the
terminal can send the data usage information of the first virtual
card consumed by the terminal to the management device. The
management device can issue the control instruction to the terminal
according to the data usage information of the first virtual card.
The terminal can control the use of the first virtual card
according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. According to the present disclosure, based on the data
usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal, the terminal can control the use of the first virtual
card according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. It is possible to use the data at a lower charge while
satisfying the user's need. The user's experience is greatly
enhanced.
[0146] The transceiver 802 may be any wireless transceiver, and
detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0147] The memory 804 may include one or more computer programs.
The memory 804 can be any type of computer readable storage medium,
for example a volatile memory and/or a nonvolatile memory. The
volatile memory may include a Random Access Memory (RAM), and/or a
high-speed cache memory, or the like. The nonvolatile memory
includes, for example, a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), a
hard disk, a Flash memory, or the like. One or more program
instructions may be stored the computer readable storage medium.
The processor 806 performs the program instructions to implement a
method for controlling data communication, such as one of the
methods described above in connection with FIG. 4. A variety of
applications and various data may also be stored in a
computer-readable storage medium, for example working status of a
display screen, operating status of an application, or the
like.
[0148] The processor 806 may include one or more processors. The
processor may be Central Processing Unit (CPU) or another form of
processing unit with data processing capabilities and/or
instruction execution capabilities, including, but not limited to,
Microcontroller (MCU), or Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or
the like. The professor 806 may control other components in the
terminal 1 to perform a desired function, according to the computer
programs stored in the memory 804.
[0149] The components and configurations of the terminal 1 shown in
FIG. 8 are merely examples and not limited, and the terminal 1 may
also have other components and configurations as needed, and may
include, for example, an acquisition unit, a display unit, or the
like.
[0150] The management device can obtain and manage the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated, where managing the plurality of
virtual cards to be allocated includes allocating and retrieving
the virtual cards. The virtual card may be a virtual user identity
card for communication network in roaming area provided by a
company that specially sells the user identify card of the roaming
area, or by a local carrier corresponding to the user identity
card. The resources of the virtual card can be the data resources
of the virtual card.
[0151] The terminal establishes the communication connection
through the transceiver 802 with the management device that manages
the plurality of virtual cards to be allocated. After establishing
the communication connection, the terminal receives the information
of the first virtual card, and initiates the first virtual card for
data communication. After the terminal is issued the first virtual
card, the first virtual card can simulate a complete function of a
user identify card, allowing the terminal to register and connect
to the communication network provided by an oversea carrier in the
roaming area as a local user. The terminal can use the data at
local data rates for data communication.
[0152] The management device generally does not know data usage
information of each virtual card. In the present disclosure, the
terminal reports the data usage information of the first virtual
card consumed by the terminal to the management device. The data
usage information of the first virtual card consumed by the
terminal may be the data usage information of the terminal using
the first virtual card for data communication. The data usage
information may be an amount of data consumed by the terminal
through using the first virtual card for data communication, which
can be counted by the terminal.
[0153] In some embodiments, the amount of data consumed by the
terminal through using the first virtual card can be counted by the
terminal and reported to the management device by the terminal at
regular intervals or when the data usage exceeds a certain amount.
This can effectively reduce the burden of the management device,
and enable the management device to manage the data usage of the
virtual SIM cards in real-time.
[0154] After the terminal sends the amount of data used by the
terminal through using the first virtual card for data
communication, the management device calculates an amount of
remaining data of the first virtual card, according to a total
amount of data of the first virtual card and the data usage
information of the first virtual card consumed by the terminal.
After calculating the amount of remaining data of the first virtual
card, the management device may control the use or reallocation of
the first virtual card according to the amount of remaining data of
the first virtual card, and send a control instruction for the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card to the terminal.
[0155] In some embodiments, controlling the use of the first
virtual card can include controlling the terminal to continue using
or to stop using the first virtual card for data communication.
Controlling the reallocation of the first virtual card can include
reallocating the first virtual card to another terminal for data
communication, or not allocating the first virtual card
anymore.
[0156] Thus, the terminal controls the use of the first virtual
card according to the control instruction issued by the management
device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the use
or reallocation of the first virtual card can be dynamically
controlled based on the data usage information of the first virtual
card consumed by the terminal. As such, the resources of the first
virtual card can be used to the utmost extent without passing an
upper limit of the subscribed data resources. It is possible to use
the data at a lower charge while satisfying the user's need. The
user's experience is greatly enhanced.
[0157] A method according to the embodiments of the disclosure can
be realized by means of software plus a hardware platform, and can
also be realized by a hardware platform. Embodiments of the present
disclosure can be implemented in the form of a software product
stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disc, optical
disc), which may include a number of instructions for enabling a
terminal device (which may be a mobile phone, a computer, a server,
an air conditioner, or a network device, or the like) to perform a
method consistent with the disclosure, such as one of the methods
described above.
[0158] For the sake of simplicity, the above-mentioned embodiments
of the method and apparatus are described as a series of steps or
combination of units, but a person in the art will recognize that
the present disclosure is not limited by the described sequence of
steps or the connection of units. In accordance with the present
disclosure, certain steps may be performed in other order or at the
same time, some units may use other connections.
[0159] It should also be understood by the person in the art that
the embodiments described in the specification are merely examples.
The numbers in the disclosed embodiments are merely for the purpose
of description, and the steps and units are not necessary for the
present disclosure.
[0160] For embodiments of the present disclosure, different
embodiments may have different focus. The portions not detailed in
one embodiment may be found in the relevant description of other
embodiments.
[0161] In several disclosed embodiments, it should be understood
that the disclosed technical solution may be implemented in other
ways. For example, the embodiments of the apparatus described-above
are merely for illustration. For example, the division of the units
is merely a logical function division, and there may be other ways
for implementing. For example, multiple units or components may be
combined or may be integrated into another system, or some feature
may be ignored, or not executed. In other respects, the mutual
coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection shown or
discussed herein may be either an indirect coupling or a
communication connection via communication interfaces, apparatus,
or units, and may be electrical type, or other types.
[0162] The units described as separate parts may or may not be
physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may
not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or
may be distributed over a network. Part or all of the units may be
selected according to the actual needs to achieve the objective of
the embodiment.
[0163] In addition, in various disclosed embodiments, the
functional units may be integrated into one processing unit, or may
physically exist separately, or two or more functional units may be
integrated into one processing unit. The functional units can be
implemented either in hardware or in the form of software
functional units.
[0164] If the functions are implemented in the form of software
functional units, and sold or used as a separate product, the
functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
Based on this understanding, embodiments of the present disclosure
can be implemented in the form of a software product. The software
product stored in a storage medium includes a number of
instructions for enabling a computer device (which may be a mobile
phone, a computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform
all or part of a method consistent with the disclosure, such as one
of the methods described above. The aforementioned storage medium
includes one or more of various mediums that can store
instructions, such as a USB disk, a mobile hard disk, a Read-Only
Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory, a magnetic disk, or an
optical disk, or the like.
[0165] The embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples. Other
applications, advantages, alternations, modifications, or
equivalents to the disclosed embodiments are obvious to a person
skilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed within the
scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *